The hearing of pending applications in the continuing case of alleged bribery and misappropriation against Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, or APC, and seven other individuals was scheduled for November 20 by a Kano State High Court on Wednesday.
The state administration filed an eight-count charge against Ganduje and his wife, Hafsat Umar, alleging bribery, theft, and the division of public funds totaling billions of Naira.
The others are Lasage General Enterprises Limited, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, Jibrilla Muhammad, Umar Abdullahi Umar, and Abubakar Bawuro.
Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, the state’s attorney, informed the court that he was not prepared to move forward when the case was brought up for hearing about the sixth defendant’s preliminary objection.
“My lord we have filed our counter affidavit and one of our witnesses is here before the court all the way from Lagos State”.
Ganduje, his wife, and Umar’s lawyer, Mr. Offiong Offiong, SAN, told the court that he had not yet served the plaintiff’s preliminary objection and counter-affidavit.
We’re not prepared, my lord. We would like to move the application to a different date.
Mr. Taye Falola, the attorney for the third and seventh defendants, told the court that he had not yet received the applications and counter-affidavit.
“We filed our preliminary objection to the motion on notice dated October 10, 2024. We humbly apply for another date for hearing”.
Mr. Nureini Jimoh, SAN, the sixth respondent’s attorney, informed the court that he submitted a notice of preliminary objection on July 9.
” We are ready to proceed and move the application”
Abdul Adamu SAN and Mr. Faruk Asekome, the attorneys for the fifth and eighth defendants, stated that they had not received the preliminary objection or the counter-affidavit.
“We equally filed our notice of preliminary objection dated Oct.17 and filed October 18.
“My lord we are also asking for another date”
Judge Amina Adamu-Aliyu rejected the plaintiff’s application and stated that process service is crucial.
Adamu-Aliyu postponed the hearing till November 20th in order to hear all outstanding applications.
